peut!_" they broke into one mad rush and in utter rout reached the
bank of the Oise. Some threw themselves into boats, others crowded
round the bulwark of the Bridge. Thus they attracted the very
misfortune they feared. For the English followed so hard on the
fugitives that the defenders on the ramparts dared not fire their
cannon for fear of striking the French.[2009]

[Footnote 2009: Perceval de Cagny, p. 176. Falconbridge, in _Trial_,
vol. iv, p. 458. Monstrelet. Note concerning G. de Flavy; Lefevre de
Saint-Remy, Chastellain, _loc. cit._]

The latter having forced the barrier of the bulwark, the English were
about to enter on their heels, cross the bridge and pass into the
town. The captain of Compiegne saw the danger and gave the command to
close the town gate. The bridge was raised and the portcullis
lowered.[2010]

[Footnote 2010: Note concerning G. de Flavy, _loc. cit._ Du Fresne de
Beaucourt, _Jeanne d'Arc et Guillaume de Flavy_ in _Bulletin de la
Societe de l'Histoire de France_, vol. iii, 1861, pp. 173 _et seq._ Z.
Rendu, _Jeanne d'Arc et G. de Flavy_, Compiegne, 1865, in 8vo, 32 pp.
A. Sorel, _La prise de Jeanne d'Arc_, p. 209. P. Champion, _Guillaume
de Flavy_, appendix i, pp. 282, 286.]

In the meadow, Jeanne still laboured under the heroic delusion of
victory. Surrounded by a little band of kinsmen and personal
retainers, she was withstanding the Burgundians, and imagining that
she would overthrow everything before her.

Her comrades shouted to her: "Strive to regain the town or we are
lost."

But her eyes were dazzled by the splendour of angels and archangels,
and she made answer: "Hold your peace; it will be your fault if we are
discomfited. Think of nought but of attacking them."

And once again she uttered those words which were forever in her
mouth: "Go forward! They are ours!"[2011]

[Footnote 2011: Perceval de Cagny, p. 175.]

Her men took her horse by the bridle and forced her to turn towards
the town. It was too late; the bulwarks commanding the bridge could
not be entered: the English held the head of the causeway. The Maid
with her little band was penned into the corner between the side of
the bulwark and the embankment of the road. Her assailants were men of
Picardy, who, striking hard and driving away her protectors, succeeded
in reaching her.[2012] A bowman pulled her by her cloak of cloth of
gold and threw her to the ground. They all surrounded her and together
cried:

"Surr